This chapter includes Prompt 9 - Apologies are said

Paula sat patiently on the bench in the bus station while Chase busied himself in the public phone booth. After twenty minutes he emerged and waved for her to follow.

"Where are we going now?"

"To get the car. I found a seller. We can grab a bus at the corner."

"How do we remain anonymous, if you go and buy a car?" She complained, as he ushered her onto the transit.

"It's called title-jumping. My seller has a car with a blank title. I pay him cash and there's no record he ever owned it."

"But then what do you do?"

"Same, or just dump it. No title no record."

She sighed and stared out the window. This was a world she only knew in movies.

"It'll be fine don't worry. What I want to know now, is what I asked before. Is there anyone at Rytex Industries you could go to that you could trust?"

"Go to for what?"

"Someone who could represent your concerns to the FDA?"

"I'm not sure . . . I wouldn't want to put anyone in danger."

"So, that's a no?"

"I'm sorry, but I just don't think I could do that."

"Okay. I ask because you being the only dissenter, even sending it anonymously wouldn't fool anyone at Rytex. You'd need others to spread the doubt."

She considered his words, then shook her head. "Sorry, Chase. I can't."

"This is our stop."

******

Doc Reagan listened to the report from his team, wishing he'd never tried to use Chase in the first place. Even with his history of assassinations, the man would have made a fantastic agent. He somehow always managed to end his trail. Semple's body had been found in his car with no indication of any kind where he had been. And as he had deduced, the phone was gone.

Doc asked if they could get anything from the onboard navigator system, maybe track John's moves.

"No, sir. Everything was deleted or wiped and a factory reset was performed. There're always scraps left, and we might get something, but our friend was pretty thorough."

"I'm sure he was. Check with local cops to see if there were any reports of shootings - gunshots - CCTV, you know the drill. Call me back with anything."

Doc hung up and looked at his hand. The knuckles were still bruised and swollen from Sanford's face; he hadn't intended so much damage. In the movies they just rub their jaws and move on. Sanford's nose was shattered. He called the hospital to see how he was and learned that he had been discharged, and would be convalescing at home.

At least he's out of my hair, Doc thought.

******

The car turned out to be a Toyota Camry in decent condition and not too old. Chase spent several minutes with the seller after the deal was done, and Paula noticed a doubtful nervousness about the man as they drove off.

"Okay, we're anonymous again, want something to eat or drink?"

"We just had brunch!"

"Having something else isn't against the law."

"What will we do if we don't stop?"

"Keep driving."

"Where? And don't be such a smart ass."

He didn't answer right away, but shortly after, he pulled into the parking lot of a roadside bar.

"I feel like a drink, and a few minutes of relaxation. You coming?"

"Why are you so- so abrupt with me all the time? I didn't ask for any of this you know."

He undid his seat belt and turned toward her. "I know you didn't, and for that I'm really sorry. But if I had refused to do anything, you would be dead by now." Her features collapsed and he could see tears forming. "Don't let it get to you, we'll be fine."

"But how? When? You said--"

"We both said too much."

This time she was pinned to the seat against the door. His lips on hers sent shocks down her back, but she didn't resist, and soon was returning the kiss with surprising passion.

"You have made this really difficult, Paula," he said, pulling away.

"Me!"

"I don't have room in my life for- for romance."

"You call this romance? You practically assault me - twice . . ."

He sat quietly, holding her eyes with his. "And you still haven't said no."

"Well- well I- it took me by surprise. I mean, the first time you gave me a reason."

"That what you want, a reason?"

"Well some kind of explanation would be nice."

"Okay. I've become very attracted to you. It's not something I am striving for, I just- since we've been together you've kind of grown on me."

"What, like a fungus? Someone you can- can use at your leisure?"

"No." He turned and opened the door, the word hanging sadly in the air.

******

The silence surrounding the booth where they sat was, as they say, deafening. Paula toyed with a cappuccino, stirring the froth until the drink looked muddy, while Chase fiddled with a phone, fingers flying over the pad.

"Won't that give us a way?" She finally spoke out, a mix of annoyance and regret.

"It's a one-time use burner." He volunteered nothing more.

"What are you using it for now?"

He stopped tapping, and his eyes came up to meet hers. "I'm learning a bit about the man who hired me."

"My uncle?"

"No. Sanford Whittall."

She dropped her spoon. "Sa- Sanford! He hired you to kill me?"

"Tell the world why don't you."

They both looked around to see if any of the other customers were paying attention.

Paula leaned back in the booth, staring at the table. "I can't believe that."

"If it makes you feel better, don't." He went back to the phone for a moment, then took out the card and snapped it in half on the table.

"Why are you looking him up now?" A trace of fear crept into her voice.

Chase sighed and studied her a moment. "Because, he was the money behind your drug. We made them miss their deadline, so his investment has gone into the dumper."

"Why? The drug still has great potential, it just needs further testing."

"His investment was made because they were going to make a huge profit dealing with the military. That's off the table now - at least as far as any deadline was concerned."

"How do you know this?"

He shook his head. "We talked about this. You saw the military at your office. You were the one who suggested they were doing brain mapping and that's why they wanted your drug."

She blinked and stared back.

"I want to speak to him now to see if, after seeing his gamble was spoiled, he might be convinced to switch sides - support your claim to the FDA."

"Why would he? What could he gain now?"

"The driver's seat. He could pull his financial support if they didn't follow the rules. And if they did, as you said, the drug could be very valuable."

The silence returned while she parsed his words carefully. Chase finished his beer and sat back, tapping the broken card on the table-top.

"You're really trying to help me, aren't you?" She finally broke the lull.

"From the start, Paula."

A sense of guilt and shame washed over her, mixed with confused emotions of attraction and danger. He had risked his own life to protect hers, and she was torn between resenting that fact, or resenting all the facts - him, Rytex, her uncle - her professionally cloistered life . . .

"If you're finished, we need to get moving." He slid out of the booth, waiting.

"I'd like to go ahead with your plan," she said, standing beside him.

He smiled and nodded, leading the way out of the diner. They climbed into the car and drove off a few hundred yards, then he tossed the broken card out, and several hundred more, he tossed the phone. When he pulled off again, into a lay by, she gave him a puzzled look.

"I want to say something that is very foreign to me." He looked out the windshield. "I want to say- I want to say I'm sorry. Sorry for not treating you with the respect you deserve."

She looked down, her mouth beginning to gape.

"In my world there isn't room for empathy, but since being with you . . . well, let's just say my world changed." He turned to her. "You did hear me, right?"

Her hand found his across the console and the mutual squeeze spoke louder than any words.

"I'm sorry too, Chase. I didn't look past the fact that I was a victim, and I completely missed the fact that I was really the beneficiary in this mess."

He released his seat belt and leaned across, only this time he waited for her to undo hers as well.